Tag: Invokana Kidney Problems

Invokana is linked to serious side effects. Medical experts state Invokana medication is linked to severe and life-threatening side effects including kidney failure, leg amputations, heart attacks and diabetic ketoacidosis., a build up of acid in the body known as diabetic ketoacidosis

Invokana was the first member of a new generation diabetes drug to hit the market, known as sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors. Others in this class of drugs include Farxiga, Jardiance, and Invokamet

Increased Risk of Diabetic Ketoacidosis

SGLT-2 inhibitors alter normal kidney functions to increase the amount of sugar excreted in the urine.

As a result of this, the body loses the carbohydrates that it needs to function, and the kidneys become stressed and damaged by sugar molecules.

Because of a reduced amount of circulating sugar, the body goes into “starvation” mode where it begins to break down muscle tissue and stored fat to generate ketones as fuel. This condition is called “diabetic ketoacidosis” and can be deadly if left untreated.

In June 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required the drug makers to add a new Invokana safety warning, highlighting that the diabetic medication may increase the risk of acute kidney injury and kidney failure.

The FDA has also required new Invokana warnings about a risk of diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious medical condition associated with elevated levels of acid in the blood.

Increased Risk of Amputations

Based on new data from two large clinical trials, the FDA in May 2017 concluded that the type 2 diabetes medicine canagliflozin (Invokana, Invokamet, Invokamet XR) causes an increased risk of leg and foot amputations.

Final results from two clinical trials – the CANVAS (Canagliflozin Cardiovascular Assessment Study) and CANVAS-R (A Study of the Effects of Canagliflozin on Renal Endpoints in Adult Participants With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus) – showed that leg and foot amputations occurred about twice as often in patients treated with canagliflozin compared to patients treated with placebo, which is an inactive treatment.

As a result one has to question the use of these type of drugs and maybe consider the difficult choice for some to control their diabetes by diet and exercise if it is an option. At minimum one should question their doctor about diabetes medications prescribed and do your own research, Your Dr. should closely monitor your health when taking this or other similar medications. If your Doctor knows less than you do about Diabetes you might want to find another who at minmum is willing to let you take an active role in your own care.

My opinion is that the American Diabetes Association is too chummy with the diabetes drug industry and their guidelines are not stringent enough to protect your health and your doctor may lack the necessaary education or is just overwhelmed with patients.

Sitting in a Dr’s Office where my Dad goes you are exposed to one long diabetes commercial interspersed with drug ads . It tells me that the diabetes epidemic is real and YOU have to be responsible for your own health! A recent article I posted pointed out the huge number of drugmakers at the ADA conference and the huge money being made by drug companies selling diabetic drugs. Read this post also on this blog, http://suddenlydiabetic.com/diabetes-drugs-cost-soar/

You can bet that your Dr is getting hit up by attractive drug representatives pushing these various companies drugs with incentives to prescribe them.